kellymoe
Expedition Leader
Inyo/Saline Experience
"I gotta pull over and get some drugs". Hiking and exploring in the 120 degree heat had taken it's toll on my body. I had a pounding headache and needed relief now. My dad and I were speeding along the Saline Valley North Pass road when I decided to pull over and hydrate and take a few strong meds. As stepped out of the truck I noticed headlights and dust fast approaching behind us. This was the first vehicle my dad and I had seen in 2 days and 150 off road miles.
A white Jeep Rubicon came sliding to a stop and a very tan robust white haired and bearded man came jumping out the Jeep. Santa drives a Rubicon? He came running up to me saying yelling "Saline 130?!!". Saline 130 is my user name on another adventure site. I said yes and he responded "XPBC", his user name. The interweb is truly a weird conduit of information and communication. His dress consisted of a pair of camouflage Crocs and camouflage shorts and a cool vintage pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers. He was a mix between Santa and one of the guys in ZZ Top.
We had a long conversation about the Saline Valley hot springs, Big Horn sheep, guzzlers, fabricated bumpers, home made moonshine, beer, mining, Land Rovers and Jeeps. We said our goodbyes and he was off to Benton Hot springs. I finally got my meds and relief came soon after. It was a fantastic encounter in the middle of nowhere.
My trip was intended to be a solo trip to the Inyos and the Saline Valley. Two days before I left I was talking to my dad and it occurred to me that we hadn't been on a trip together in a while. I asked if he would be interested in driving in 120 degree heat in my Land Rover with no AC. Without hesitation he said yes!
We left Burbank on Wednesday morning and headed North. Our first stop was lunch at the Ranch House Cafe. The customers where a mix of CDF firemen and one firewoman , sorry, I'm a fireman in a LA and I have a hard time saying firefighter, too PC. The others where Los Angeles DWP workers, cowboys and some guys who are doing something to Owens Dry lake to keep the dust down. If your in the area don't miss the Ranch House.
My initial plans were to drive to the Eureka Dunes for the first night, but as we drove North on 395 I was telling my dad about Papoose Flat and some rock climbing I had done up there about 10 years earlier. As we entered Independence we changed our plans. We gassed up and headed East up Mazourka Cyn.
It was well over 100 degrees in the Owens Valley but as we ascended Mazourka Cyn the temps dropped fast. Within 40 minutes the temps were in the 70's.
The last time I drove this road was last Winter during a snow storm. There are a few sections of off camber and under normal conditions it gets your attention but is not too difficult. But the snow and sleet on shale made the back end do some pretty funky stuff. But now it was clear and dry and we pushed on to Papoose Flat.
Papoose Flat is like Joshua Tree except it is situated at 9k feet and has a million dollar view of the Eastern Sierra. I pointed out to my dad a few cracks and formations that I had climbed back in my prime and 20 pounds lighter. We snapped pictures moved on.
We drove East out of Papoose Flat. The trail follows a sandy bottomed wash as it snakes it's way toward Upper Marble Cyn. which is known for it's high concentration of gold. This was made obvious by the numerous mine shafts and addits. I gotta say that these hard rock miners are truly some of the toughest ********** on the planet and probably a little off mentally.
With the a blanket of darkness sliding over the Great Basin to the East we headed South on the Wacouba/Saline road looking for a place to camp.
"I gotta pull over and get some drugs". Hiking and exploring in the 120 degree heat had taken it's toll on my body. I had a pounding headache and needed relief now. My dad and I were speeding along the Saline Valley North Pass road when I decided to pull over and hydrate and take a few strong meds. As stepped out of the truck I noticed headlights and dust fast approaching behind us. This was the first vehicle my dad and I had seen in 2 days and 150 off road miles.
A white Jeep Rubicon came sliding to a stop and a very tan robust white haired and bearded man came jumping out the Jeep. Santa drives a Rubicon? He came running up to me saying yelling "Saline 130?!!". Saline 130 is my user name on another adventure site. I said yes and he responded "XPBC", his user name. The interweb is truly a weird conduit of information and communication. His dress consisted of a pair of camouflage Crocs and camouflage shorts and a cool vintage pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers. He was a mix between Santa and one of the guys in ZZ Top.
We had a long conversation about the Saline Valley hot springs, Big Horn sheep, guzzlers, fabricated bumpers, home made moonshine, beer, mining, Land Rovers and Jeeps. We said our goodbyes and he was off to Benton Hot springs. I finally got my meds and relief came soon after. It was a fantastic encounter in the middle of nowhere.
My trip was intended to be a solo trip to the Inyos and the Saline Valley. Two days before I left I was talking to my dad and it occurred to me that we hadn't been on a trip together in a while. I asked if he would be interested in driving in 120 degree heat in my Land Rover with no AC. Without hesitation he said yes!
We left Burbank on Wednesday morning and headed North. Our first stop was lunch at the Ranch House Cafe. The customers where a mix of CDF firemen and one firewoman , sorry, I'm a fireman in a LA and I have a hard time saying firefighter, too PC. The others where Los Angeles DWP workers, cowboys and some guys who are doing something to Owens Dry lake to keep the dust down. If your in the area don't miss the Ranch House.
My initial plans were to drive to the Eureka Dunes for the first night, but as we drove North on 395 I was telling my dad about Papoose Flat and some rock climbing I had done up there about 10 years earlier. As we entered Independence we changed our plans. We gassed up and headed East up Mazourka Cyn.
It was well over 100 degrees in the Owens Valley but as we ascended Mazourka Cyn the temps dropped fast. Within 40 minutes the temps were in the 70's.
The last time I drove this road was last Winter during a snow storm. There are a few sections of off camber and under normal conditions it gets your attention but is not too difficult. But the snow and sleet on shale made the back end do some pretty funky stuff. But now it was clear and dry and we pushed on to Papoose Flat.
Papoose Flat is like Joshua Tree except it is situated at 9k feet and has a million dollar view of the Eastern Sierra. I pointed out to my dad a few cracks and formations that I had climbed back in my prime and 20 pounds lighter. We snapped pictures moved on.
We drove East out of Papoose Flat. The trail follows a sandy bottomed wash as it snakes it's way toward Upper Marble Cyn. which is known for it's high concentration of gold. This was made obvious by the numerous mine shafts and addits. I gotta say that these hard rock miners are truly some of the toughest ********** on the planet and probably a little off mentally.
With the a blanket of darkness sliding over the Great Basin to the East we headed South on the Wacouba/Saline road looking for a place to camp.
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